The snowy weather has delayed Trinidad and Tobago international Kerry Baptiste’s trial with the Blues, according to reports in the Caribbean. Wideman or striker Baptiste, who currently plays for Joe Public in his home country, was set to spend the coming week training at Playford Road.

News of the 28-year-old’s trial first surfaced three weeks ago, although manager Roy Keane subsequently said he knew nothing about the planned spell.

Baptiste, who scored 48 goals for his club last season, says he has been working on his fitness ahead of his time with Town: “I have been doing a lot of training and I am really looking forward to this opportunity to further my skills and put my club and country further on the international landscape.”

Elsewhere, defender Tommy Smith has told the New Zealand press that manager Keane is by no means the terrifying figure he is often claimed to be: "People see Roy as a scary man but he's quite approachable.

"He doesn't get involved on a personal level but he's always saying if we ever need to talk about anything football related, he's just a knock on the door away. He is definitely the biggest influence on my career right now, no doubt about it."

Smith says Keane firmly backed his decision to switch international allegiance to the nation where he grew up: "The opportunity to play in a World Cup doesn't come around very often. When I told Roy about the opportunity to play for New Zealand, he told me to grab it with both hands. It's every boy's dream to play in a World Cup."

Meanwhile, former X-Factor contestant Olly Murs says he has been getting advice from Keane by text, having met the Blues boss at the recent Celtic-Rangers game: “Roy Keane is a legend, just such a wonderful person.

“I am a massive Manchester United fan and to have this icon from the club talking to me and giving me advice is out of this world."

“People warned me that I wouldn’t get a smile out of him, let alone a minute of his time to talk to him. Nothing could be further from the truth. He said talent is only half the battle and hard work will always win out.”

And in other transfer news, former Blue Shefki Kuqi has again been linked with a move to Swansea. The Finnish international striker is currently with German side Koblenz.

Photo: Action Images

Greektractor added 10:59 - Jan 10 keano giving advice to an x factor contestent. Brilliant
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:14 - Jan 10 a ''sing- a- long'' with Olly & Roy at half time i suppose !
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Mungo added 11:33 - Jan 10 Probably goes something like this: "Olly - I advise you to stop texting me..." Couldn't hurt to have a look at Baptiste although I suspect he is might be a bit too old to make the step up now. Doesn't sound like he would be too expensive though so could well be worth taking on loan for the rest of the season?
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Blue4life added 12:12 - Jan 10 I think Keano should go to sign Kris commns from derby and Rob Earnshaw from Nottinham Forest I no he was a canary before but he is fast and has a strikers finish, also Notts forest have been leaving him out the squad and putting him onthe bench as they already have the likes of, blackstock, adebola, Tyson, maysweki and other who usually take his place.
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Blue4life added 12:39 - Jan 10 Kris commons And Rob Earnshaw Who thinks these would be good signings? And could go for jermaine beckford?
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bedsitfc added 13:30 - Jan 10 earnshaw is an alien
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jas0999 added 14:22 - Jan 10 Good stuff. Keane gets a bad press cos it sells papers. Sounds as though he's a decent person.
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Liverpool_blu added 14:29 - Jan 10 "Joe Public" - Class name for a Footie club.. Must be maanged by Jo bloggs or Ann Other
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:53 - Jan 10 well ''Joe Public '' is a change from Irish Republic ,but 48 goals between the palm trees on a sunny beach in Trinidad,probably wont equate to the 20 goals a season we are looking for ,we really need to get a proven striker at our level .But lets see what he can do, once the goose pimples subside!
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MVBlue added 23:37 - Jan 10 This is really wierd. We are signing a striker who plays for 'Joe Public' and Roy Keane is sending texts to an X-factor runner-up. I mean, thats wierd. Whats happened to normality at this club? Anyway, I'll be at the Cov game, Bobby Robson stand, hope its loud, see y'all there.
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moyardmadman added 05:25 - Jan 11 i dont care if he plays 4' public toilets' if he can score goals 4 town hes worth a look cause most of the slackers we have at the moment couldnt score in goa
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:37 - Jan 14 get a grip! or get some gloves. & tights.
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Tractorog added 13:05 - Feb 22 Shefki Kuki scored for the Swans over the weekend ... must have been a fantastic strike if he was playing in Germany at the time!
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